Electrical spark-plug-shorting device



June 3 19240 I 39496383 A. a. SEPPMANN' ELECTRICAL SPARK PLUG SHORTING DEV ICE med 5 m 4, 1923 June 3, 1924.

UNITED STATES ALFRED BRUNO SEPPMANN, OF LAKE CRYSTAL, MINNKOTA.

ELECTRICAL SPARK-PLUG-SHORTING DEVICE.

Application filed April 4, 1923. Serial No. 629,828.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED B. SEPPMANN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Lake Crystal, in the county of Blue Earth and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Spark-Plug-Shorting Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to .the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to testing devices and more particularly to a device for testing the engines of automobiles and the like.

An im ortant object of the invention is to provi e means for testing an engine by shorting the spark plugs thereof, and including means whereby either all of the spark plugs of the engine, with the exception of a selected plug, may be simultane ously shorted or a single selected plug may be shorted as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be conveniently mounted so that it may be operated by a mechanic seated at the steering-wheel of an automobile, thereby permitting testing of the engine while under load or under actual road conditions, it being well-known to those familiar with the art that irregularity in the operation of the engine noticeable while the engine is under load may be impossible of detection while the engine is idling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which not only serves as a means for shortingfhe plugs to locate trouble in the engine, ut which may likewise be employed as a testing device to determine whether or no the gaps of the spark plugs are roperly spaced.

These and other 0 jects I accomplish by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a (preferred embodiment of my invention an wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation partially diagrammatic, showing a testing device constructed in accordance with my invention, connected for testing an engine;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof, mounting blocks bein removed; and

Figure 3 is a side e evation thereof show ing the same applied to the steering wheel of an automobile.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a suitable panel having mounted upon the front face thereof a plurality of single blade, single throw switches 5. The blade pivot end 17 of the switches is in each instance connected with a cable 17*, having at its free end an attaching clip 18 of the type commonly employed for connecting the storage battery leads of the storage battery and generally known as a charging clip. The contacts of the blade switches are extended through the opposite fe of the panel and form contact points 10 r engagement by resilient fingers 11, carried by a bar or gang switch 6.

The switches 5 are at least one in excess of the number of cylinders of the engine to be tested and the contact 15 of this excess switch, generally designated at 16, is electrically connected with the reci rocatory bar 6 and with the fingers thereof? The bar 6 has slotted openings 12 formed therein, through which extend headed elements 13, forming a mounting for the bar by means of which it may be shifted to bring the fingers 11 into engagement with the contacts 10 of the remainder of the switches and accordingly to electrically connect each of these contacts with the bar 6. This bar is provided upon that face thereof opposing the panel 4 at one end with a symbol 19, designating when exposed that connection has been made between the bar and the switches contacts 10, and upon the opposite end with indicia 20, indicating when exposed that this contact is broken. The panel is provided with any suitable mounting 4, which mounting includes a pair of spring clamp arms 8, adapted to clampin 1y engage the rim 9 of the steering whee S, so that the assemblage may be readil mountt ed upon the steering wheel of the ve icle and be handy for manipulation by a person driving the vehicle.

In the use of the device the same is mounted upon the steering wheel and the clip 18 of the lead 17 a from the ground switch 16 is enga ed with some metallic part of the machine. The clips of the remaining loads 17, which are numbered substantially as indicated to correspond to the corresponding switches, are engaged with the central electrode of the spark plugs of the engine, the usual leads L of these spark plugs being con nected in the usual manner. Assuming that it is desired to locate a cylinder which is missing when the vehicle is under load with the car in operation, the mechanic engages all of the switches but one, for example, that switch generally designated at 1 and corresponding to the first cylinder of the engine. The gang switch 6 is then placed in the On position with the result that all'of the spark plugs with the exception of that one, theswitch of which is elevated, are simultaneously shorted, for the reason that they are each electrically connected with the bar 6 and this bar is in turn electrically connected with the switch 16 and through the switch 16 to the ground. If the cylinder tested is found to be in operation the switch 1 is closed and the switch 2 opened and the test thus proceeded with until the missing cylinder is located. It will be seen that this test may be made without stalling the engine since a temporary out off of all of the cylinders but the one bein tested may be momentarily made and t e inertia of the car while in motion will keep the engine in operation during such a limited period. When it is desired to locate a fault in the engine, which is only present when an explosion occurs in the engine andin a particular cylinder in which the fault lies, as for an example, a sticky exhaust valveor a piston slap, this is accomplished by disengaging all of the switches from 1" to 6 incluslve, the ground switch 16 being left closed and the gang switch 6 moved to the on position.

ince the switches are all open none of the tsipark plugs are shorted and a si la c linor at a time may be tested by closing own the switch representing the desired cylinder and corresponding with it in number. By proceedi in regular order through the switches t e faulty cylinder may be readily determined. When it is desired to use the device to test the spark plugs to determine erly spaced, this test may be made by disen spark yj mate that the p whether or no the points thereof are propswitches from 1 to 6 and placm the gang switch in a contact position, t e switch 16 being left engaged. The switch corresponding to the plug to be tested is then moved toward its contacts but left spaced therefrom a distance of, for example, 3/64", a distance greater than the proper distance between the terminals of the spark plug. If a spark closes the gap between the switch blade and its contacts this will indicate that the plug points are either too far gaging all of the apart. If no spark appears at this time the switch is moved more closely into e agement and within the distance at whic the spark lug points are properly spaced. If a oes not appear at this time it will ing poln sre either too messes pleasant shocks, such as are commonly met with in attempting a test of this character by shorting the plugs of the engine by the use of screw drivers or the like. This-structure has been found particularly advantageous in locating trouble on light six, high speed motors, the bore of which is usually very small and the impulse rather light, thus rendering it diflicult to distinguish by sound the missing cylinder by shorting a single plug at a time. By the use of my device all of the cylinders but one can be cut out instantly and positively for a short period of time and without danger of stalling the motor. It will be obvious that a device of this character is capable of a considerable range of modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure as herein set forth, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In a device of the type described a suitable support, a plurality of switches mounted upon the support, flexible leads connected with corresponding terminals of the switches and each provided at. an end thereof with a connector and means for con- ,necting the other terminals of all of the switches when the bar is shifted in one (11-? rection.

2. In a device of the t suitable support, a plura ity of switches mounted upon the support, flexible leads connected with corresponding terminals of the switches and each provided at an end thereof with a connector and means for connecting the other terminals of all of the switches but one to one another and to the corresponding terminal of the remaining switch, comprising a bar electrically connected with the terminal of the last named switch and having contact fin ers engaging the last named terminals of t e remaining switches when the bar is shifted in one direction, and means for attaching said suppolrt to the steering wheel of an automope described, a

ible lead co nected ith cor p g t minals of all of said switches, each of the plurality of contact fingers electrically enflexible leads being provided upon its gaging the remaining terminals of the refree end with a terminal clamp, a bar of maining switches when the bar is shifted in 10 conducting material slidable upon the rear one direction.

5 face of the panel and electrically connected In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my with the other terminal of one of the signature. switches, said bar being provided with a ALFRED BRUNO SEPPMANN. 

